Morecambe 2-1 Aldershot

Kevin Ellison celebrates the opening goal that gave Morecambe the lead on Tuesday night.

Published:09:02Wednesday 13 February 2013

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Two second half goals handed Morecambe a vital victory over lowly Aldershot at the Globe Arena on Tuesday night.

An Oliver Risser own goal 20 minutes from time and a late Gary McDonald header meant The Shrimps edged further away from the League 2 relegation zone without ever coming close to reaching their best.

Ryan Williams had the first shot on goal for either side, the diminutive midfielder gaining a reputation for strikes from distance, saw an effort from 25 yards beaten away by Jamie Young on seven minutes.

The game struggled to really come to life however until the visitors fired in two warnings just before the half hour mark.

First Danny Hylton saw a shot on the turn go just wide after good work from Kieron Cadogan on the right and then Peter Vincenti had a deflected right foot shot from just outside the area palmed round the post by Barry Roche.

The Shrimps weren’t without efforts of their own though, quick thinking from Jack Redshaw nearly catching out Young with a dipping, early strike from distance on 33 minutes.

And it was the home side who came closest to a goal before the break, Nick Fenton crashing a header off the crossbar on 44 minutes after Stewart Drummond had kept a deep Williams corner alive.

Another Fenton header was the first opening of the second half, the Shrimps number two heading a Williams free-kick harmlessly wide under heavy pressure.

It the first half had been short on chances a large part of the second was even more focused in the middle third of a badly cut up pitch.

But Jim Bentley’s side did get their noses in front on 70 minutes.

Lewis Alessandra’s deep corner was headed back into the danger area by Drummond once again and Risser was unlucky to flick the ball beyond Young from a few yards out.

And a far from vintage victory was all but confirmed five minutes from time, Young saving Williams’ original swerving effort from distance well but McDonald reacted quickest, bravely throwing himself at the ball to head home from close in.

The Shrimps did give their fans a brief worry, Danny Hylton pulling a goal back in the 92nd minute, calmly finishing past Roche after some neat footwork.

But it was too little, too late for the visitors who remain in the League 2 drop zone while The Shrimps moved closer to the magic 50 point mark.